Tubular gate



Nov. 17, 1953 S. KAFLAN TUBULAR GATE Filed Feb. 16. 1951 c nvenioz 1 Jamo2an flf ggy v Patented Nov. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8Claims.

My invention relates to gates and while it was designed moreparticularly for use in cattle yards,-

pastures and the like it can be used to close any passageway through awalled or fenced-in area.

Gates for cattle enclosures are usually considerably longer than theirheight dimension and this obviously puts a substantial strain on thehinged end when the gate is opened and closed. Because of this, thesetype gates will usually sag out of alignment and become very diflicultto manipulate. Likewise any latch devices used thereon will soon becomeuseless.

With this problem in mind, it is the aim of my invention in general toprovide a gate having a new type of structure on the end to receive thehinges so that it will be capable of being adequately and properlysupported at all times.

More particularly my new gate structure is especially adapted for use ongates having a horizontal length substantially greater than its vertiealdimensions.

A further object of my invention is to provide a gate of the above classhaving a new hinge means designed for use thereon.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a gate having theabove characteristics which is of all metal construction welded intoasingle rigid unit requiring no repairs or maintenance.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a gate as abovedescribed that is light in weight and durable in use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combinationof the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated areattained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims,and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my gate showing the hinges in place andpivotally mounted on a supporting post,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of this gate taken on theline 2--2 of Fig. 1 and showing and. II, the side members formed by thetop rail I2 and the bottom rail I3 as shown in Fig. 1. While anysuitable material may be used for this gate, I preferably use aluminumtubing and integrally connect the sides and ends at the respectivecorners by the welds I 3a as illustrated. This provides a lightweightframe and the welded connections give added rigidity. Within the gateframe I place the reinforcing tubular support member I4 which is mountedadjacent the side It and extends between the top I2 and bottom I 3 asshown in Fig. 1. The respective opposite ends of the member I4 areintegrally connected by welding Ida to the side members I2 and I3 andintegrally connected by welds I4b between its ends to the end member Ias illustrated. This for this gate.

makes an extremely strong gate end upon which to mount the hinges whichI will later describe.

The numeral I5 designates a plurality of tubular reinforcing membersarranged in relatively closely spaced parallel relationship andintegrally connected as by welding I5a or the like at their respectiveopposite ends to the members II and I4. The spacer support members I6are placed in alignment between the members I5 and substantiallyparallel to the end members II] and II and are each integrally joined attheir respective opposite ends by welds I6a to the reinforcing membersI5. Each of the members I5 and sup-- a much wider bearing surface forreceiving a. hinge than other gates of similar character. To.

get the most benefit from this innovation I have made for use with thisgate the hinge which is shown generally at II in Fig. 2 and which I willnow describe. The body portion I8 of the hinge is U-shaped andpreferably made from flat metal bar or strap material with its free endportions I9 and 2!! shaped in the form of a bolt and being threaded toreceive the nuts 2| and 22. A bar member 23 having a depression orconcave surface 24 on one side is designed to be mounted on thebolt-like ends I9 and and to be secured thereon by the nuts 2| and 22 asshown in Fig. 2.

The numeral designates an eye bearing member having a reduced neckportion 26 which is. welded to the U-portion of the bolt on the outer.side thereof and extending perpendicularly therefrom.

In mounting this hinge, its respective U-sides are designed to embraceboth the end III and member I4 so that the bolt ends project out-.wardly therefrom. The bar member 23 is then placed on the bolt ends sothat the depression 24 engages and conforms to the perimeter of themember I4. Then by applying the nuts 2| and 22 and tightening them intheusual manner,

the hinge is securely mounted. Usually one such hinge is used at theupper portion of the gate and one at the lower portion although morethan two can obviously be used if necessary.

Thus constructed and arranged the eye bearing members 25 can bepivotally mounted on the: lugs 21 or the like secured to a supportingmember which I have illustrated by the post 28.

It is pointed out that the hinge I'I embraces and engages not onlyone-half of the end member IE but together with the bar member 23 itembraces and engages substantially one-half of the member [4 so that amaximum bearing surface is utilized on the tubular structure used Noholes are drilled in the gate 3 itself for bolts or the like nor arescrews placed therein so that the full strength of the gate isunimpaired. The gate with hinges mounted may be completely removed fortransportation or storage, if desired, without disassembly of anyportion and without the use of any tools.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangements of my gatewithout departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, andit is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms ofstructure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonablyincluded within their scope.

I claim:

1. A gate of substantially rectangular form composed of a pair oftubular end members and a pair of tubular side members integrallyconnected at the respective corners, a plurality of relatively closelyspaced parallel tubular reinforcing members integrally joined at theirrespective opposite ends to said end members, and a plurality of tubularspacer support members arranged between said reinforcing members inalignment and substantially parallel to said end members and eachintegrally joined at their respective ends to said reinforcing members.

2. A gate of substantially rectangular form composed of a pair oftubular end members and a pair of tubular side members integrallyconnected at the respective corners, a plurality of relatively closelyspaced parallel tubular reinforcing members integrally joined at theirrespective opposite ends to said end members, and a plurality of tubularspacer support members arranged between said reinforcing members inalignment and substantially parallel to said end members and eachintegrally joined at their respective ends to said reinforcing members;said integral connections of said reinforcing members comprising weldsextending throughout the substantially entire cross sectional area ofthe member to which it is attached.

3. A gate of substantially rectangular form composed of a pair oftubular end members and a pair of tubular side members integrallyconnected at the respective corners, a plurality of relatively closelyspaced parallel tubular reinforcing members integrally joined at theirrespective opposite ends to said end members, and a plurality of tubularspacer support members arranged between said reinforcing members inalignment and substantially parallel to said end members and eachintegrally joined at their respective ends to said reinforcing members;said integral connections of said spacer support members comprisingwelds extending throughout the substantially entire cross sectional areaof the member to which they are attached.

4. A gate of substantially rectangular form composed of a pair oftubular end members and a pair of tubular side members integrallyconnected at the respective corners, a plurality of relatively closelyspaced parallel tubular reinforcing members integrally joined at theirrespective opposite ends to said end members, and a plurality of tubularspacer support members arranged between said reinforcing members inalignment and substantially parallel to said end members and eachintegrally joined at their respective ends to said reinforcing members;said integral connections of said reinforcing members and said spacersupport members comprising welds extending throughout the substantiallyentire cross sectional area of the member to which they are attached.

5. A gate as defined in claim 1 wherein said tubular members are formedfrom a non-ferrous material.

6. A gate as defined in claim 2 characterized by a support member andmeans on one of said end members for mounting said gate to said supportmember.

7. A gate of substantially rectangular form composed of a pair oftubular end members and a pair of tubular side members integrallyconnected at the respective corners, a tubular sup port memberintegrally connected at its respective opposite ends to said sidemembers and similarly connected intermediate its ends to one of said endmembers, a plurality of relatively closely spaced parallel tubularreinforcing members integrally joined at their respective opposite endsto one of said end members and to said tubular support member, aplurality of tubular spacer support members arranged between saidreinforcing members in alignment and substantially parallel to said endmembers and each integrally joined at their respective ends to saidreinforcing members, a gate support member, and a hinge means carried bysaid tubular support member and its integrally connected end memberpivotally mounted to said gate support member.

8. A gate of substantially rectangular form composed of a pair oftubular end members and a pair of tubular side members integrallyconnected at the respective corners, a tubular support member integrallyconnected at its respective opposite ends to said side members andsimilarly connected intermediate its ends to one of said end members, aplurality of relatively closely spaced parallel tubular reinforcingmembers integrally joined at their respective opposite ends to one ofsaid end members and to said tubular support member, a plurality oftubular spacer support members arranged between said reinforcing membersin alignment and substantially parallel to said end members and eachintegrally joined at their respective ends to said reinforcing members,a gate support member, and a hinge means carried by said tubular supportmember and its integrally connected end member pivotally mounted to saidgate support member; said hinge means consisting of a U-shaped rigidstrap member embracing said end member and said tubular support membersecured thereto, a bar member arranged on the free ends of said U-shaped hinge member and detchably secured thereto so as to frictionallyengage a portion of said tubular support member, and a bearing eyesecured to and extending from said U-shaped strap member.

SAM KAPL-AN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

